The Loras College women's soccer team advanced to their eighth NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday evening with a 1-0 win over the Wartburg College Knights.

Both teams worked methodically to earn shots on goal and played a physical 90 minutes for the tournament title. In the end, much of the game was spent away from both goalkeepers in the middle of the field while both squads jockeyed for sustained possession and quality chances in front of the goal. The teams combined for four shots on goal.

The one that mattered in the 1-0 decision in favor of the Duhawks was the one that left the foot of senior defender and co-captain Kelly Murphy. Murphy continued to press forward late in the first half and separated herself from a group of players on the opposite side of the Wartburg penalty area from where the play had developed. Jaclyn Tumberger slipped a pass through to Murphy, who followed by slipping a shot underneath Knights goalkeeper Monica Noti. The 42^nd minute goal built the momentum for the Duhawks entering the final 45 minutes.

The Knights managed five second half shots on Katie Chambers and the Loras defense, but they required just one save of Chambers.

Loras held on to win the match, the IIAC Tournament title, and the IIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.

The goal was just the second of Murphy's career and first game-winning goal. Each goal has come in the last two weeks.

Loras is the only team entering the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships with at least 20 wins and have outscored their opponents 52-8.